Mineral oil composition



Patented July 9, 1946 man. on. comosmon Ferdinand Philip Gtto, Woodbury, N. 3., asslgnor to Socony-Vacimm Oil Company, Incorporated, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application September 9, 1M2, Serial No. fifltd (Cl. 252- -5L5) 19 Claims. i

This invention has to do with the improvement of mineral oil fractions by the use of a novel class of reaction products or compounds which, when admixed with such a mineral oil in minor proportions, will prevent or delay undesirable changes taking place in the oil.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, substantially all the various fractions obtained from mineral oils and refined for their various uses are susceptible to oxidation. This susceptibility and the manner in which oxidation manifests itself within the oil varies with the type and degree of refinement to which the oil has been subjected and with the conditions under which it is used or tested. In other words, the products formed in an oil fraction as a result of oxidation and the degree to which they are formed depends upon the unstable or catalytic constituents present in th unrefined oil, and the extent to which these various unstable constituents or constituents which may act as oxidation catalysts have been removed by the refining treatment.

The use of oxidation inhibitors for the purpose of stabilizing mineral oil fractions against the deleterious effects of oxidation is well known. As the action of these inhibiting materials is apparently catalytic, the problem of their development is a difficult one and is evidently influenced to a large degree by the oxidizable constituents which are in th oil following a particular refining treatment. For example, a particular inhibitor, or class of inhibitors may be efiective to stabilize a highly refined oil (one refined with large quantities of fuming sulfuric acid) against acid formation while the same inhibitor may have no appreciable effect upon acid, color or sludge formation in a moderately refined oil (such as one refined with a moderate quantity of sulfuric acid), and vice versa. This same inhibitor may or may not be effective in inhibiting acid, sludge, and color formation in a solvent-refined oil and may or may not be effective to inhibit the corrosive action of a solvent-refined oil toward metals such as, for example. the various normally corroded alloys typified by those used in cadmium-silver bearings.

Numerous compounds and compositions have been proposed for use as inhibitors in mineral oil fractions. Typical of such inhibitors are those formed by reactions of various amines and aldehydes, and of various amines, aldehydes and hydroxyaromatic compounds. Inhibitors of this class, or classes, are of varying degrees of 'efiectiveness and are, in general, efiective only in a specific type of oil, such as a moderately refined oil,

The present invention is predicated upon the discovery of a class of reaction products or compounds which possess the property of stabilizing all mineral oil fractions against the deleterious effects of oxidation. The improving agents contemplated herein are obtained by the reaction of hydroxyaromatic compounds; ammonia and aldehydes having more than one carbon atom. Of this broad class of reaction products or compounds, however, two sub-classes are preferred. One such sub-class of reaction products is that obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a hydroxyaromatic compound, one equivalent of ammonia and two equivalents of said aldehyde. Particularly preferred are those reaction products of a second sub-class which are obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a hydroxyaromatic. compound and two equivalents of an aldehyde-ammonia condensation product. Reaction products of this latter and particularly preferred sub-class are' less resinous, and, accordingly, more soluble than the other reaction products or compounds broadly contemplated herein.

Typical hydroxyaromatic compounds contemplated for use as one of the three reactants are: phenol, cresol, ethyl phenol, diamyl phenol, waxphenols. a-naphthol, p-naphthol, wax-alphaand beta-naphthols, etc. Long chain aliphatic groups having more than twenty carbon atoms and obtained from petroleum waxes are referred to herein as "wax groups, and are contemplated herein as preferred substituents of hydroxyaromatics 'as indicated above.

As defined above, the reaction products or compounds contemplated herein have as one of the three reactants an aldehyde having more than one carbon atom. In short, all aldehydes other than formaldehyde are contemplated herein. For example, my particularly preferred class of reaction products or compounds is that obtained by the reaction of one equivalent of a hydroxyaromatic compound of the group above, and two equivalents of an aldehyde-ammonia condensation product. Formaldehyde does not react with ammonia in the same way, and, accordingly, does not yield similar products, as do other fldehydes. Representative aldehydes which may be used to obtain the reaction products or compounds contemplated hereinare acetaldehyde, buisrraldehyde, furfuraldehyde, henzaldehyde, toluic aide hyde, etc.

Several typical procedures by which the ream tion products or compounds contemplated herein may be prepared are described by the following:

. ExAMeLE 1 BzrA-NAPnrnoL-BsmLnEnYnE-AMMONIA One mol, 144 grams, of beta-naphthol was dissolved in 220 cc. of 95% ethyl alcohol and to this solution two mols, 212 grams, of benzaldehyde were added. Then, 200 cc. of 95% ethyl alcohol saturated with ammonia was added. The reaction vessel was then closed and the reaction allowed to continue for two hours, after which time the reaction vessel was opened. Unreacted ammonia was allowed to escape and the reaction mixture so formed was allowed to stand for about twelve hours. The condensation product which separated in the form of white needles was filtered with suction, and washed with 50 cc. of alcohoL The condensation product contained about 4.2% of nitrogen in addition to carbon, hydrogen and oxygen,

EXAMPLE II DIAMYL PHENOEBENZALDEHYDE-AMMONIA Gaseous ammonia was introduced into a mixture of 50 grams (0.21 mol) of diamyl phenol, 45.3 grams (0.42 mol) of benzaldehyde and 100 grams of 95% ethyl alcohol at room temperature. After about twenty minutes the temperature rose to 115 F., and during the following hour fell to 95 F., after which the introduction of ammonia was discontinued. The mixture was then gradually heated to 150 F. and maintained at'this temperature for about 1% hours. The mixture was then allowed to cool and stand at room temperature for a few days. The reaction mixture was then diluted with benzol, water-washed and topped" to 210 C. at 5 mm. pressure in order to remove solvents and unreacted materials. The reaction product contained-3.76% nitrogen.

EXAMPLE m' ALPHA-NAPHTHOL AND BENZAlZ-DEHYDE-AMMONIA (a) BenzaZdehyde-ammonia Concentrated NH4OH, 200 00., was added dropwise to a solution of 106 grams (1 mol) of henzaldehyde in 100 cc. of 95% ethyl alcohol. The reaction mixture during this addition was cooled by means of an ice-bath which was removed after the addition was complete. When the mixture was at room temperature, the crystals which had deposited were filtered and washed with alcohol.

(b) Alpha-naphthol and benzaZdehyde-ammonia The benzaldel'iyde-ammonia, 149 grams, obtained above in 3 (a) was mixed with 72 grams (0.5 mol) of alpha-naphthol and 200 cc. of 95% ethyl alcohol. The mixture was warmed on a steam-bath until the evolution of ammonia was 4 EXAMPLE IV DIAHYL PHENOLACETALDEH'YDE-AHHONIA EXAIVIPLEV DIAMYL PHENOL AND ACETALDEHYDE-AMMONIA (a) Acetaldehyde-ammonia Gaseous ammonia was passed slowly into a solution of grams of acetaldehyde in 150 cc. of ether for about two hours. The temperature, during the ammonia addition, was maintained below 150 C. by cooling the reaction vessel by means of an ice-bath. The crystalline precipitate of acetaldehyde-ammonia was filtered from the reaction mixture by suction, washed several times with ether and then dried in a desiccator.

(b) Diamyl phenol and acetaldehyde-ammoma One-half a mol (117 grams) of diamyl phenol, 300 cc. of absolute alcohol and 61 grams of acetaldehyde-ammonia, obtained above in V(a), were mixed together and the mixture warmed to 45 C. The mixture was then allowed to stand in a stoppered fiasklat room temperature for 24 hours. The mixture was then filtered and the filtrate was topped" to C. with vacuum to obtain the product, a light-brown oil containing 3.46% nitrogen.

EXAMPLE VI WAx-BErA-NAPnmoL (3- -16) AND Acn'rsnnenrnn- Amuom Seven grams of acetaldehyde-ammonia, obtained above in V(a), cc. of benzol, 35 cc. of ethyl alcohol and 50 grains of wax-beta-naphthol (3-16) obtained according to the procedure outlined in U. S. Patent 2,197,834 were mixed together and the mixture warmed to 45 C. The mixture was then allowed to cool to room temperature and allowed to stand at room temperature for about 16 hours. It was then filtered and the filtrate was topped to 150 C. with vacuum to obtain the finished product which con-' tained 1.02% nitrogen.

EXAMPLE VII ,s-NAPnrHoL AND ACETALDEHYDE-AMMONIA A mixture of 72 grams of p-naphthol, 66 grams of acetaldehyde-ammonia, obtained as in V(a), and 200 cc. absolute ethyl alcohol was warmed gently to 45 C. and then allowed to stand for two days in a stoppered flask at room temperature. The flask containing the product was. then placed in an ice-salt bath in order to precipitate the product, a white amorphous material. On reprecipitating from ethyl alcohol, a crystalline product was obtained. Re,-

crystallization from ethyl alcohol gave a white crystalline product which contained: 6.47% nitrogen', 78.63% carbon and 6.63% hydrogen.

The effectiveness of the reaction products or compounds contemplated herein is demonstrated by the results of the following tests on oil blends containing small amounts of said reaction products or compounds, and on the oils alone. Results are also provided below for individual reactants, or for reaction products of only two of the three necessary reactants for the reaction products contemplated herein, in order to indicate the superiority of the contemplated reaction products over said reactants and said partial reaction products. It will be noticed that, as aforesaid, these improving agents are eifective in more than one type of oil, illustrative of which are the moderately refined and solvent refined oils used in the tests described below.

EXAMPLE VIII Conaosron Tasr Motor oils, especially those refined by certain solvent-extraction methods, tend to oxidize when submitted to high temperatures to form products that are corrosive to metal bearings. This corrosive action may be quite severe with certain bearings, such as those having the corrosion-susceptibility of cadmium-silver alloys and may cause their failure within a comparatively short time. The following test was used to determine the corrosive action of a motor oil on an automobile connecting rod bearing of the cadmium-silver alloy type.

The oil used consisted of Pennsylvania neutral and residuum stocks separately refined by means of chlorex and then blended with an S. A. E. 20 motor oil with a specific gravity of 0.872, a flash point of 435 F., and a Saybolt Universal viscosity of 318 seconds at 100 F. The oil was tested by adding a section of a bearing containing a cadmium-silver alloy surface and weighing about 6 grams, and heating it to 175 C. for 22 hours while a stream of air was bubbled against the surface of the hearing. The loss in weight of the bearing during this treatment measures the amount of corrosion that has taken place. A sample of the oil containing the improving agent was run at the same time as a sample of the straight oil, and the loss in weight of the bearing section in the inhibited oil can thus be compared directly with the loss of the section in the uninhibited oil. The results obtained in this test are set forth in Table I below.

Table I Mgs. loss in weight Reaction product added g gg Inhib- Uninhibited ited Diamyl phenol M 44 35 Diamyl phenol-benzaldehydemonia V4 4 35 Beta-naphthol Mo 46 35 Beta naphthoi benzaldehyde ammonia Mo 4 35 Alpha naphthol henzaldehyde ammonia M 2 35 Benzeldehyde-ammonial4 12 46 o Ho 23 46 Beta-naphthol and benzaldehydeammonia $4 1 46 D0... Mo 2 46 Alpha-naphthol and benzaldehydei4 1 46 Mo 2 46 i4 39 Do Me 8 39 Diamyl phenol and acetaldehydeammonia 3/ 0 31 D0 Mo 1 31 Wax beta-naphthoi (3-16) and acetaldehyde-ammonia i4 2 32 Bcta-naphthoi and acetaldehyde- V4 0 31 ammonia Mo 6 31 In the foregoing table, the data clearly demonstates the superiority of the reaction products contemplated herein over the individual reactants and the partial reaction products, those of onlytwo of the individual reactants. For example,

diamyl phenol does not improve the oil in this corrosion test, in fact, corrosion increases from 35 to 44 mgms.; whereas, the same quantity, 3%, of the reaction product of diamyl phenol, benzaldehyde and ammonia reduces corrosion in the beta-naphthol and to'benzaldehyde-ammonia in this test.

' EXAMPLE IX A distillate from a Rodessa crude was refined with IurfuraLdewaxed and filtered. It had a specific gravity of 0.856, a flash point of 420 F., and a Saybolt Universal viscosity of 151 seconds at 100 F. It is suitable for use in turbines. It was tested as follows:

Twenty-five cc. samples of the oil were heated to 200 F., with 5 liters of air per hour bubbling through them. Twenty-four inches of No. 18 gauge copper wire and 1 gram of iron granules were added to each sample. Also, 22 cc. of distilled water were added each day. The samples were tested for acidity (N. N.), color, and sludge after varying periods of time. Results are given in Table II below:

. Table II Reaction product 1 01' cent Time, N Lov. Sludge,

added used hrs. color mg./25 cc.

None 165 a). s 320 251 Alpha-naphthol Mo 1, 006 19. 1 147 199 Alpha-naphtholbenzaldehydeammonia M 1, 102 0i 3 EXAMPLE X oil blend containing a representative improving agent of the type contemplated herein to determine the comparative behavior of the unblended oil and the improved oil under the actual operating conditions of an automotive engine. The tests were carried out in a single-cylinder Lauson engine operated continuously over a time interval of 16 hours with the cooling medium held at a temperature of about 212 F. and the oil temperature held at about 280 F. The ensine was operated at a speed of about 1,830

B. P. M. At the end of the test, the oil was tested for acidity (N. N.) and viscosity.

The oil used in the test was a lubricating oil stock of 45 seconds Saybolt Universal viscosity at 210 F., and the results obtained are listed in v Table III below:

As indicated by the foregoing examples, the

proportion of the improving, agents contemplated herein t effect the desired improvement is small. The amounts used may, of course, be

varied, depending upon the oil, the conditions of use, etc., but in general, the desired results can be obtained with an amount of improving agent r n ing from about 0.1 per cent to about 1.0 per. cent by weight of the oil.

It is to be understood that while I have described in detail several preferred procedures which may be followed in the preparation of the reaction products or compounds contemplated herein as oil-improving agents and have referred to various representative constituents which may be used in the preparation of these reaction products or compounds, such procedures and examples have been used for illustrative purposes only. The invention, therefore, is not to be considered as limited by the specific examples provided but includes within its scope such changes and modifications as fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, suflicient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious efiects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a mono-hydroxyaromatic compound, two equivalents of an aldehyde having more than one carbon atom and one equivalent of ammonia.

2. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, suflicient to stabilize said oil ainst the deleterious efiects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a mono-hydroxyaromatic compound and two equivalents of an aldehyde-ammonia reaction product wherein the aldehyde has more than one carbon atom.

3. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, sumcient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious efiects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a mono-hydroxyaromatic compound, two equivalents of an aliphatic aldehyde having more than one carbon atom and one equivalent of ammonia.

4. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and inadmixture therewith a minor proportion, suificient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a monohydroxyaromatic compound, two equivalents of acetaldehyde and one equivalent of ammonia.

'5. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, sufficient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of an alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound, two equivalents of an aldehyde having more than one carbon atom and one equivalent of ammonia.

6. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, sufficient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of diamyl phenol, two equivalents of acetald'ehyde and one equivalent of ammonia.

8. An improved mineral oil composition com- .prising a mineral oil and inadmixture therewith a minor proportion, suflicient to stabilize said oil against the deterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent or a monohydroxyaromatic compound, two equivalents of an aromatic aldehyde having more than one carbon atom and one equivalent of ammonia.

9. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, suflicient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a monohydroxyaromatic compound, two equivalents of benzaldehyde and one equivalent of ammonia.

10. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, suflicient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of diamyl phenol,two equivalents of benzaldehyde and one equivalent of ammonia.

11. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, suflicient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a mono-hydroxyaromatic compound and v two equivalents of an-aliphatic aldehyde-ammonia reaction product wherein the aliphatic aldehyde has more than one carbon atom.

12. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, sufficient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a mono-hydroxyaromatic compound and two equivalents of an acetaldehyde-ammonia reaction product.

13. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, sufficient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious efiects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of an alkyl-substituted mono-hydroxyaromatic compound and two equivalents of an aldehyde-ammonia reaction product wherein the aldehyde has more than one carbon atom.

14. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, suificient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of diamyl phenol and two equivalents of an aldehyde-ammonia reaction product wherein the aldehyde ha more than one carbon atom.

15. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, suflicient to stabilize said oil against the deleterious efiects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of diamyl phenol and two equivalents of an acetaldehyde-ammonia reaction product.

9 16. An improved mineral oil composition comprising 9, mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, sufficient to stabilize said oil against the deleteriou efiects of oxida tion, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a mono-hydroxyaromatic compound and two equivalents of an aromatic aldehyde-ammonia reaction product.

1'7. An improved mineral oil composition comprising a mineral oil and in admixture therewith a minor proportion, sufiicient to stabilize said 011 against the deleterious effects of oxidation, of the reaction product obtained by the reaction of substantially one equivalent of a mono-hydroxyaromatic compound tion product.

and two equivalents of a benzaldehyde-ammonia reac-' 18. An improved mineral oil composition com-' prising a mineral oil and in admixture therea FERDINAND PHILIP OTTO.

fiertcate of Correction Patent No. 2,403,453.

FERDINAND PHILIP OTTO Jul e, 1946.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed s ecification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 6, inc 28, Example IX, for 22 cc. read 2 00.; column 7, line 61, claimfi, for hydroxyaromatic read monohydrow'yaromatw and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in'the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of October, A. D. 1946.

r: FR 21:"

First Assistant Uommz'sst'oner of Patents. 

